Daily Readings - Sun Mar 17 2024

³¹"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.³²It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, "declares the LORD.³³"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.³⁴No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Hebrews

Chapter 5

⁷During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.⁸Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered⁹and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

John

Chapter 12

²⁰Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."²²Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.²³Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.²⁷"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.²⁸Father, glorify your name!"²⁹Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.³⁰Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.³¹Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.³²But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."³³He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Sermon

The readings today guide us through a journey of covenant, obedience, and sacrifice, each weaving together to reveal God's plan of salvation. Jeremiah's promise of a new covenant highlights a deepened relationship with God, where His law is inscribed on our hearts, leading to a universal knowledge of Him. This covenant, born out of the old one's limitations, signifies a restoration and a closer bond with God's people. In Hebrews, we see Jesus as the embodiment of this new covenant, whose obedience and suffering pave the way for our salvation. His prayers and tears illustrate His humanity and reverence, yet His divine role as the source of eternal salvation is clear. In John's Gospel, Jesus' conversation with the Gentiles and His subsequent discourse reveal the culmination of this covenant through His death. The grain of wheat metaphor teaches us that self-sacrifice is essential for bearing fruit, mirroring Jesus' own journey. His death, a necessary step in God's plan, draws all people to Himself, demonstrating that true life comes through surrender. The voice from heaven underscores God's glorification and the cosmic victory over evil, emphasizing the universal impact of Jesus' sacrifice. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace a life of self-giving love and trust in God's plan. Just as Jesus trusted in His Father's will, we too can find purpose in our struggles. The new covenant calls us to live with God's law in our hearts, leading to actions that reflect His love. Let us remember that our challenges, like Jesus', can lead to greater good, drawing others to God. May we trust in His plan, knowing that through sacrifice, we find true life and honor from the Father.